World Day of the Sick

World Day of the Sick
and Health Care Workers
February 11

LEADER:
The mystery of suffering confronts us daily. Today
we gather to bring hope and encouragement to the sick and all
health care workers. Saint Benedict would have us be a school
of loving service. People who are suffering ask only for help.
When we receive help, we need to accept what is offered with
a loving response. We all need the support and loving care of
one another.

LEADER:
Psalm 55:23
Cast your care upon the Lord
and God will support you.

ALL:
Help us to set aside our worries
and trust in the Lord our God.

READING:
Luke 10:25-37 “The Good Samaritan”

Pause to ponder the message for our lives.

LEADER:
(in these or similar words)

What do you worry about? Why are you anxious? God
created you. Will God not take care of you? When we place
ourselves in our Creator’s hands, we live by faith. God’s spirit
of loving concern is a gift given to everyone. We need to help
each other to persevere. Console and encourage one another
and find God’s hidden blessings.

PRAYER LITANY

LEADER:
In union with Christ, the suffering servant, we ask
in prayer:
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

Help us to promote good health and quality of life,
we pray:

ALL:
LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.
(Repeat after each petition.)

Inspire us to live by core values and ethical
decision-making, we pray:

Guide us to make a garden of our human home by
combining external ecology with internal moral
ecology, we pray:

Surround with affectionate care those who are
afflicted by human suffering, we pray:

Bless especially all health care workers who
devote their lives to loving service of the sick,
we pray:

May mutual respect of each person bring fuller
harmony and a healthy balance of mind, body and
spirit, we pray:

PRAYER

LEADER:
Christ, the Divine Samaritan,

ALL: WE THANK YOU AND PRAISE YOU
FOR COMING TO LIVE AMONG US.
YOU CALL US
TO FOLLOW YOUR EXAMPLE
OF BEING A SUFFERING SERVANT.
SEND YOUR SPIRIT OF RESPECT,
UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSION.
HELP US TO RECOGNIZE YOU
IN ONE ANOTHER
AND IN THE POOR
AND THE POWERLESS.
WE ASK THIS NOW AND FOREVER.

AMEN.